Maui Airport Options: Which One Should You Choose?

Maui has three airports, but only one, Kahului Airport (OGG), has facilities to accommodate direct flights from the U.S. mainland. The airport is located on the northern edge of the land bridge between Haleakala and the West Maui Mountain Range on the island of Maui. It is the second busiest airport in the State of Hawaii and occupies 1,391 acres of land. Kahului Airport is also the only airport that you can use to fly between Maui and the other 49 states of the U.S. or to or from any other country.

Kahului Airport (OGG) is the main airport in Maui

Kahului Airport is a subordinate of Maui District officials and has a passenger terminal with ticketing, USDA agricultural inspection, and baggage claim areas on the ground level. Sixteen jetways are available for embarking or disembarking passengers, with odd-numbered gates having a jetway and even-numbered gates having stairs leading to the ramp below. The airport code OGG pays homage to aviation pioneer Bertram J. "Jimmy" Hogg, a Kauai native who worked for Hawaiian Airlines and pioneered commercial passenger flights between the Hawaiian islands.

Maui has two other smaller commuter airports: Kapalua Airport (JHM) in West Maui and Hāna Airport (HNM) in East Maui. However, these airports only accept smaller propeller planes, and Kapalua Airport does not have any flights after dark. Many airlines offer non-stop flights directly to Kahului Airport, and it is possible to fly into Honolulu International Airport before taking a short 30-minute flight to Maui. The Honolulu-Kahului corridor is one of the heaviest-trafficked air routes in the US.

Kahului Airport provides easy access to the rest of Maui, with the Maui Bus operating two routes that stop at the airport. It is about a 45-minute drive from the airport to the main resort areas of Kaanapali, Lahaina, Kihei, and Wailea. The average temperature in Maui is between 75–85 F, and it is generally drier on the western (leeward) side and wetter on the eastern (windward) side. Maui offers a range of accommodations, including high-end resorts, hotels, bed and breakfasts, and rentals.

Kapalua Airport (JHM) is a small airport in West Maui

Maui has three airports, but only one, Kahului Airport (OGG), has facilities to accommodate direct flights from the U.S. mainland. It is the largest Maui airport and is located on the northern edge of the land bridge between Haleakala and the West Maui Mountain Range. The airport occupies 1,391 acres of land and is located three miles east of the town of Kahului. It is the second busiest airport in the State of Hawaii and the newest in terms of terminal facilities.

The other two airports on Maui are much smaller. One of these is Kapalua Airport (JHM), a small airport in West Maui just north of Lahaina and Kaanapali, on the west side of Maui. It is a few miles south of Kapalua and only accepts propeller planes (no jets). There are no flights in or out of Kapalua Airport after dark. The airport code letters JHM stand for John Henry Magoon, a pilot and the president of Hawaiian Airlines when the airport opened.

You can only fly between Kapalua Airport and the island of Oahu (Honolulu), the Big Island of Hawaii, or sometimes the island of Lanai. You can’t fly to this airport from any place outside of the state of Hawaii. If you are stopping in Honolulu on your way to Maui, and if your hotel or condo is on the west side of Maui, then you can fly into Kapalua Airport from Honolulu and be much closer to your hotel or condo (5 to 15 minutes away) than if you had flown into Kahului Airport.

The third airport on Maui is Hana Airport (HNM) in East Maui. It is a tiny airport three miles from the town of Hana. Only small single-engine propeller planes fly in or out of this airport.

Hana Airport (HNM) is a small airport in East Maui

Maui has three airports, but only one, Kahului Airport (OGG), has facilities to accommodate direct flights from the U.S. mainland. The other two are smaller commuter airports: Kapalua Airport (JHM) in West Maui and Hana Airport (HNM) in East Maui.

Hana, Maui, is known for its natural beauty and traditional Hawaiian culture. Attractions in Hana include the Hana Cultural Center and Museum, Hamoa Beach, and the Pipiwai Trail and Waimoku Falls in the Kipahulu District of Haleakalā National Park. It is important to note that Hana is a remote area with limited services, so visitors should plan accordingly and respect the local community and environment.

Hawaiian Airlines served Hana Airport in 1969 with flights from Kahului and Honolulu, and by 1976, two commuter air carriers, Island Pacific Air and Royal Hawaiian Airways, were serving the airport. However, as of April 1, 2007, Pacific Wings was the only airline providing scheduled commercial airline service, and high fares led most travellers to opt for driving instead of flying. As air traffic increases, the Hawaiʻi State Legislature will consider future improvements, including the construction of a taxiway and the expansion of passenger terminals and parking facilities.

Kahului Airport is the second busiest airport in Hawaii

Maui has three airports: Kahului Airport, Kapalua Airport (JHM) in West Maui, and Hana Airport (HNM) in East Maui. However, Kahului Airport is the primary airport on the island, serving both overseas and interisland flights. It is also Maui's main airport and the second busiest airport in Hawaii.

Kahului Airport is located on the northern edge of the land bridge between Haleakala and the West Maui Mountain Range. The airport occupies 1,391 acres of land and is located three miles east of the town of Kahului. It has two intersecting runways and full air carrier facilities for domestic, overseas, and interisland commercial services. The airport provides commuter/air taxi and general aviation operations, including helicopter operations in separate locations.

Kahului Airport is the only airport in Maui with facilities to accommodate direct flights from the US mainland. Many airlines offer non-stop flights direct to Maui. It is also possible to fly into Honolulu International Airport (HNL) on Oahu before taking a short, 30-minute flight to Maui.

Kahului Airport's staff is also responsible for the operation and management of the Hana and Kapalua-West Maui Airports on the island of Maui. Vehicular access to the passenger terminal, commuter/air taxi, cargo, scenic tour operators, general aviation facilities, and airport support facilities is via a roadway network that connects to the Haleakala and/or Hana Highways.

Kahului Airport is located on the northern edge of the land bridge between Haleakala and the West Maui Mountain Range

Kahului Airport (OGG) is the primary airport on the island of Maui, located on the northern edge of the land bridge between Haleakala and the West Maui Mountain Range. It is situated three miles east of the town of Kahului and occupies 1,391 acres of land. The airport is the second busiest in the State of Hawaii and features two intersecting runways, accommodating both domestic and international flights.

Kahului Airport is easily accessible via the Haleakala and Hana Highways, and it offers a range of services, including commuter, air taxi, and helicopter operations. The airport also provides currency exchange services, and major credit cards are widely accepted.

In recent years, the airport has undergone expansion and improvements, including the construction of a new cargo building, an extended ticketing lobby, and the installation of upgraded explosive detection systems. These enhancements have increased the airport's capacity and improved security measures.

Kahului Airport serves as a gateway to Maui's beautiful beaches, exciting water sports, and natural attractions like Haleakala Crater and the old whaling town of Lahaina. The airport is surrounded by accommodation options, including high-end resorts, hotels, and bed-and-breakfasts, ensuring a convenient arrival experience for visitors to Maui.

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